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Woman suing landlord for $1500 but only gets $750 (11-3)

posted 8 years ago by pvd295
3 replies | jump to latest

On the November 3 show, there was a woman suing her landlord for $1500 - he owed her back her security deposit of $750. JJ asked why she was suing for double that amount, and the woman explained very nicely that in her home-state of Pennsylvania, if a landlord holds your security deposit for more than 30 days after you've vacated without cause, they then owe you double the amount.

Sure enough, JJ ruled in her favor BUT only awarded her $750, not the $1500 due her.

Why would she do this, when:

A) It's the law in the state where they come from / case was filed.

B) When a litigant sues someone for their entire 'charge' on something such as a cell phone bill - such as interest, late payment fee, breaking a contract fee, etc. - JJ gives them everything they asked for. Shouldn't she have given everything to this woman which was legally due her?

I know this has happened a number of times on The People's Court, and Judge Marilyn always gives them double their security - because it's the law in their state where they filed.

JJ didn't even explain (nor did the woman ask at the end).

"Splodey heads keep splodin' " - Sarah Palin, 7-1-16 

[–] Syn84 8 years ago

A) It's the law in the state where they come from / case was filed.

I think that JJ "explained" this once. Basically, she said that since her court is not a real court of law, she doesn't have to follow any laws (which makes no sense because JJ used "you might not like it, but its the law" reason for many of her decisions).

B) When a litigant sues someone for their entire 'charge' on something such as a cell phone bill - such as interest, late payment fee, breaking a contract fee, etc. - JJ gives them everything they asked for. Shouldn't she have given everything to this woman which was legally due her?

I wouldn't say that its a same thing. In your example with the cell phone, somebody is out that money for interest, late fees, etc. However, in JJ's case - woman wasn't out of $1,500, she was out of only $750.

===
When I die, I want to be buried face down. That way whoever doesn't like me can kiss my ass.

[–] Gubbio 8 years ago

I think that JJ "explained" this once. Basically, she said that since her court is not a real court of law, she doesn't have to follow any laws (which makes no sense because JJ used "you might not like it, but its the law" reason for many of her decisions).

In short, Judy makes up her own rules.

I recall her saying that she isn't bound by the rules of any jurisdiction. She reaches her decisions by "common sense."

That's highly debatable. 

[–] pvd295 8 years ago

These people are better off staying in their own jurisdiction.

"Splodey heads keep splodin' " - Sarah Palin, 7-1-16 